Yes Part II

To say that I was a little out of my comfort zone by enrolling in a public safety communications operator academy would be equivalent to saying that the eagle in the photo above resembles a hummingbird. I wasn’t a little out of my comfort zone. I was in a different zone altogether. In this zone, there were no bad guys. There were lots of computers and monitors. Many of the laws and rules I had been following for years did not apply. It was like…like driving my car backward the wrong way down the interstate. Among other things, I realized that it had been a very long time since I had endeavored to do anything associated with the word EXAM. In this endeavor, I had five of those. I also came to realize fairly quickly that I was having some trouble finding the self discipline to study. I eventually came to realize that this was, in part because I knew I was studying and learning material that I was never going to use. Once I confronted that reality, studying was somewhat easier confront and conquer.

There were some unexpected challenges as well. I was keenly aware that as I had been requested to attend the academy by the boss, there were many eyes on me. That created an unexpected pressure and coupled with the word EXAM, I experienced test anxiety in a real way as an adult for the first time. That was fun. NOT.

Now that I have covered what took me out of my comfort zone, let’s talk about the benefits of this endeavor.

Well, to begin with, I haven’t walked a mile in a PCVSO’s shoes, but I have done a quick lap. For a guy born in the last year of the Baby Boomers, it ain’t no picnic. I have a HUGE amount of respect for the folks who do this job. I always knew it was not for me. Give me an armed, barricaded suspect any day. This drinking from a fire hose, multi tasking, next gen. stuff is stressful, difficult and unappreciated. However, I met some amazing people. Those other folks enduring the training were inspiring. They kept me going and encouraged me.

So, I passed the course, met great people, learned a lot, walked the walk of the PCSO and sat on the student side of the desk for a change. There were a few unexpected results of the class too. After the class had concluded, I learned that there had been anxiety on the part of instructors as well. “How will this be perceived?” “Will the guy who taught to instruct, me think this method is okay?” Wow. More people than I anticipated were out of their comfort zone. Lots of respect. Attending class instantly created bonding with PSCOs and I have had conversations about training where I have actually spoken intelligently (shocking) and been able to relate to their experience.

Yes, it was very uncomfortable for me to do this. But in the end the result was growth. And, I am grateful for that growth. I am grateful for the instructors who gave their all to make sure the tire old cop in the class understood the curriculum. I am grateful for the new friends I have made. And…I am grateful for the new understanding that I have for the first responder profession that I work within.

If you or someone you know is struggling, there is help. Call 988 or if you are in the Big Bend of Florida call 211. The 2nd Alarm Project has many resources available as well (2ndalarmproject.org). If you are interested in getting notified when a new blog is posted and are not subscribed, please consider subscribing by entering your email in the “subscribe” icon on the home page. Then you’ll get an email each time a new blog is posted. If you appreciate what you have read here, please feel free to share as you are led across your social media or via email. There just might be someone out there who needs to see this content. Thank you all and stay safe.